Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Lengthy speech is not appropriate

It is after 7:00 pm in Tucson. I don't know just how long Mr. Obama has been speaking, but I know that it is way too long. For an occasion like this it is totally inappropriate for the president or anyone else to make a lengthy speech. A time like this calls for some comments on the people killed and injured, and an expression of sadness, disappointment, etc. that the tragedy occurred; nothing more. Something in the range of 5-10 minutes would be a worthy length. How refreshing it would be if some of our politicians would learn how to speak by reading the words of Abraham Lincoln.

Monday, January 10, 2011

OK, it has been a long time since I posted. Lot's of other things are more in need of my attention. However, events of the past few days deserve some comment.

I marvel in wonder when observing adults, especially some "leaders" of our communities and states, who cannot think beyond the level of a child. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and several others were wounded by a lone gunman. Others, including a judge, were killed. The gunman was apparently a drug using, mentally unstable man whose political views were of the liberal persuasion. Yet, immediately following his deathly rampage, we started hearing other liberal "leaders" and commentators blame his actions on comments from well-known political conservatives.

Of course this does not make sense for a few reasons:
  • The gunman did not likely listen much to conservatives, much less let them direct his actions.
  • No conservative has been reported as calling for the assassination of Giffords or any other congressmen.
  • Most of the victims did not hold governmental office.
  • The gunman apparently did not represent any political group, certainly not a conservative group.

But what is very disturbing is the "let's find someone else to blame" attitude that has been repeatedly voiced in the past few days. Especially notable is the immature behavior of those like the local sheriff. I suspect that the sheriff's parents heard a lot of whining when he was a child. Just this morning I heard a 7 year old, who had experienced something unpleasant, whining and angrily saying to his mother, "It's your fault." A moment later he included all those around him, saying, "It's your guys fault." Grow up, sheriff. Put the blame where it belongs. It is no one else's fault.

In recent years this seems to be a constant refrain from political liberals. Every time something really bad happens, they want to find someone, preferably a well-known conservative, but sometimes just patriotic Americans in general, to blame. This approach is often applied to criminals at all levels. I am glad to hear this morning a few comments from those who are rightly pointing out the stupidity and foolishness of this blame someone else approach. And by the way, I haven't heard any conservatives blaming liberal leaders or commentators.